Monday, July 23, 2012

In the mist languishing over a
lake,in the shadows crawling across the lawn;in the boistrous
teenagers cannon-balling into the pool,in the sweet breath of a
baby cooling our cheeks;in the elegiac stories of grandparents
around the dinner table,in the giggling of children sharing a
secret;in our rising to new life each morning,in the comforting
arms of sleep;in the healing taste of Christ's
brokenness,in the Cup's tart tang of grace;in all these, and so
many more,we are blessed with the richnessof your glory in our
lives,and offer our thanks to you,God in Community, Holy in One,even
as we pray as you teach us,Our Father . . .

And welcome to another week! This Sunday takes us to Proper 12B, the 9th After Pentecost. The RCL passages for the week can be found here.

On one hand we have the David and Bathsheba story. Which would make for an "interesting" summer sermon. On the other hand there is the famine in the land with Elisha, which would pair nicely with the feeding of the multitude in John (which is sort of the point the lectionary gods were trying to make I guess). So that leaves a choice between abundance in the face of apparent scarcity or a chance to explore "Biblical family values".

Or you could avoid both and go with Paul's blessing to the Ephesian church.

Unless of course you are on your own sermon series track.

Whatever your sermonic thoughts may be, feel free to share them in the comments.

14 comments:

I don't think I can resist David and Bathsheba. Gives a whole new twist to "love your neighbor"! What I want to say about it, though, is that David is about as much of a scumbag as we can imagine and God still uses him, and his story is in the Bible, which it turns out is not just a collection of sweet pious bits about God, but instead real people who mess up in real and big ways. I find that tremendously reassuring news, and I hope they will too.

I don't think I can resist David and Bathsheba. Gives a whole new twist to "love your neighbor"! What I want to say about it, though, is that David is about as much of a scumbag as we can imagine and God still uses him, and his story is in the Bible, which it turns out is not just a collection of sweet pious bits about God, but instead real people who mess up in real and big ways. I find that tremendously reassuring news, and I hope they will too.

I am going with God's prodigal generosity, I think. So Elisha it will be. Though I must admit David and Bathsheba are tempting! (But as I haven't been following Samuel I don't think it would be such a good idea.) I have an Ordinand from Mirfield College in Yorkshire staying with me for 6 weeks so we will work out some sort of general programme for all these bread of life passages. I look forward to a bit of a break from preaching every other week!

Not preaching this week, but back when the DSK affair was all over the media I thought that the David/Bathsheba episode would have made an excellent sermon. (I didn't get to preach it, our pastor preached that week on something about integrity from Proverbs.)

I know that I'm doing something with the feeding of the 5,000 and the "boy with the lunch", although I'm also trying to think about a Stewardship conference, wedding and funeral this week. And, relatives coming in out of town.

But, the boy with the lunch: 5 crummy loaves and two fish. Might have a lunch bag with me, and see what's in it. Also going to check a big box of Bread for the World info I got last Lent.

I'm doing pulpit supply this week for a congregation I've never visited....in other words, David and Bathsheba felt out! I'm digging into John, contemplating if this might be a miracle of receiving, shifting attention away from just what Jesus might have done to how the crowd initially responds and accepts his gifts, perpetually replenished for all. When they shift into desiring he be their king, it is like our own temptation to take the eternal gifts of God and fit them into temporal forms we can understand.....but only in receiving the mystery can we welcome the full gift. I look forward to reading other thoughts!

There's so much this week. Think I may focus on Elisha, First Fruits and more than enough. But I'm also drawn to rooted and grounded in love. Hard to think about a sermon when I'm gazing out to the Berkeley Marina, the Bay and the fog-enshrouded city beyond.

Also think I have to look at the Aurora shootings though don't know where the people are on that.

David and Bathsheba seemed like a good idea...but I'm really struggling to find good news in there, without excusing evil by making it an opportunity for God's forgiveness. That was a convoluted sentence, sorry. Anyway, hoping to find some wisdom here, there, or somewhere before Sunday morning!

I had to turn in my sermon title already- Sin, Sinner, Sinnest- based on the lectionary choices available to me (2 Sam and John). I'm thinking about writing the sermon as a long prayer, leaning heavily on Jesus' words "Do not be afraid." He does not quiet the storm, but offers peace in the midst of the storm. And, boy, aren't we stormy these days? I feel compelled to mention the Aurora shootings since I didn't do it last week.

I have put myself in a strait jacket that I won't be able to get out of?

Sin, Sinner, Sinnest! Awesome. I'm terrible at naming sermons, maybe I'll just use this for my catch all one from now on.

Thought I posted earlier, but it was from my phone, so I guess it didnt take.

So impressed with you all and your courage re the whole D and B situation. I am too squeamish. But then, I'm preaching on ephesians as part of my sermon on "peace in an election year" so maybe I am sorta brave after all....

am watching the last episode of God In America for research. Great show!